Unhappy coworkers

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Boy, I am getting tired of hearing about how unhappy my coworkers are about working, how they can't stand this department anymore,etc. One coworker is upset about always getting pulled off her orientation in the emergency room to work on the floor, working the other nurses shift that calls off,(I understand her point but then she works the extra hours and expects everyone to feel sorry for her....She can say no just like everyone else) Other nurses are just getting sick and tired or being sick and tired, moaning around everyday they come into work. We had two nurses out the last couple of days with funeral leave which has really put the hurting to our dept. I volunteered to work, if someone would switch days off. I only do the weekend program,but no we can't give you off on those days because we would definetly not have the coverage. I work the weekend program so as I have a life with my family and go to school for my bsn. Called me twice today to work the night shift, told them sorry about your luck but I can't come in.

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I whistle! :rotfl: Patient's generally love it, sounds cheery and I come across as happy in my work. And I've yet to hear ANYONE complain about it... not even the "complainers". My faves? Whistle While You Work, It's A Small World Afterall, If I Only Had A Brain.. :roll :roll :roll

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Sounds like my department lately.......we've been going through some major downsizing, and it seems like everyone's got a gripe. It can really get irritating at times, because I'm normally pretty cheerful at work (they call me the "Can-Do Girl") and even I sometimes get dragged down. The only way I know of to deal with it is to DO YOUR OWN THING.......keep smiling, be positive, and leave the complainers to their complaining. You can't change them; all you can change is how you respond to them.

End of lecture. :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It's a tough demanding field and some units it's just the culture and it's politically correct to be negative and it's hard not to be sucked into it and go along with it, or to not have it affect you in one way or another. Been there and done that. Don't have any answers.

Some people's gripes are legit. But I want to tell them to vent and move on and do their work peacefully.

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Some people's gripes are legit. But I want to tell them to vent and move on and do their work peacefully.

Well said Tweety! I try to have a happy face or at least a happy voice most of the time. It is hard though when everyone else around you is so negative (most of the time). I just provide an ear for them to vent into. :)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) We need more smiles at work!!!! :) :) :) :)

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You guys are great!! I am known as Pollyanna at work -- people tell me I would have been a great Mousekateer "COme on guys! With a litte work and some elbow grease,we can turn this old barn into a great big theater!" I get down too -- but have learned that it really doesn't do a whole lot to improve the situation to whine and complain -- my goal is to see things change as quickly as possible -- so whining and complaining are a bit counterproductive in my book! I have been known to hum dittys now and again, have on occasion allowed folks to vent -- but usually I tend to wax just a little sarcastic ( smiling all the while so it seems less offensive) and try to remind them that it could be worse. I have had to dig pretty deep sometimes to come up with creative "it could be worse comments, but have actually managed "to turn those frowns upside down" a couple of times with things like "Whew! Be glad you weren't a nurse in Pompeii!! "I wonder if there are nurses on Mars -- they say it's hot and there may be intelligent life there" -- You know, stupid stuff! Frankly, I am amazed that I haven't been beaten to a pulp by some of the gripers -- I think they just realize that you shouldn't mess with the deranged and cut me a wide path:rolleyes:

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Ya know the expression "It only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch" ...sooooo true! negative behavior seems to multiply..I'm not perfect, and sure, I have bad days too..but we HAVE to listen to our pts gripes and concerns..we shouldn't have to listen to a coworker who CONSTANTLY complains...either stay or go ...we had one person that used to work on our shift who was the picture of negative..it made EVERYONE miserable...amazing how the whole tempo of the unit changed when she left!! we all have to vent sometimes but if you are that unhappy it's time for a change before you bring everyone else down with you.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Is this strange! Just today I fanally told a co-worker that while I understand the stredd on the unit, whining and complaining about it just makes me feel worse. I told her from now on, if I can fix it then I'll try. otherwise all the bellyachin' in the world won't help and I know I can find more productive use of my time.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Last year there were layoffs at my hospital, now we have more patients and they did away with all the CNA's/Techs, so we are on our own. Sad to say, before this happened I felt like I was one of the most positive people at work..but I have been sucked in by everyone's negitivity after all this time..now I find myself sitting at the nurses station *****ing about how much it sucks and how I am going to look for another job...everytime I go into work I say I am going to be a more positive person today, but by 9 or 10am it's gone to hell. Anyone got any ideas on how I can get my positive outlook back?? :uhoh21:

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:o Why is it that some people will complain and whine constantly? At my new job almost everyone is complaining about someone or something. I try to avoid this constant negativity by keeping myself super busy all the time.
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Last year there were layoffs at my hospital, now we have more patients and they did away with all the CNA's/Techs, so we are on our own. Sad to say, before this happened I felt like I was one of the most positive people at work..but I have been sucked in by everyone's negitivity after all this time..now I find myself sitting at the nurses station *****ing about how much it sucks and how I am going to look for another job...everytime I go into work I say I am going to be a more positive person today, but by 9 or 10am it's gone to hell. Anyone got any ideas on how I can get my positive outlook back?? :uhoh21:

I think you have every reason to be disgruntled employees - what happened at your hospital DOES suck (it's not an attitude, it's reality - to have your help taken away and your patient load increased SUCKS!) Where the problem lies is that moaning and groaning doesn't help anyone, it just makes people feel worse. Doing nothing doesn't help anyone, it just lets administration know that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want. The only way to enact change is to do your complaining (and other commentary) with your feet! When they have to find new staff, the ivory idiots learn REAL QUICK that their brilliant money-saving, more-money-for-us, bonus-increasing plan BACKFIRED on them. Some of them even think twice before pulling crap like that again. Even if none of them ever realize the errors of their ways, at least you do not have to put up with the bad situation any longer.

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i'll tell you how i deal with all the whiners. i listen for a bit, then say something like "gee, sounds like you've been having an awful time. i'm sorry you are so upset and unhappy. what are you going to do about it"? amazing how they shut up when you put the ball back in their court. i usually hear " well, i don't know. maybe i'll look for another job". at any rate it gives me a chance to then turn to my work like it is the most fascinating thing imaginable.

we had a motivational speaker come to visit once and she was asked what to do when people start gossiping. her answer was to ignore them, and then they are just talking to themselves, and eventually they will get the drift and leave you alone.

but i do feel it is an ongoing challenge and would welcome anyone else's thoughts on how to deal with people who just start talking (about anything and everything going on in their lives) and how you can manage to politely extricate yourself from them. especially when you are at a desk job and its not like you have to be somewhere else right away.

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